Philippe Coutinho needs to produce more in the big games if he wants to be considered truly world-class following a below-par performance at Anfield on Saturday.

That is the verdict of Reds legend Robbie Fowler.

While Liverpool ’s Brazilian was involved in the home side’s opener, he played second fiddle on the day to a stunning performance from Eden Hazard for Chelsea , while Mohamed Salah was the standout player for the Reds.

It’s been a stop-start season for the 25-year-old, missing the first month of the season with back injury, Barcelona having three bids rejected and the club also turned down his transfer request.

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However he scored in three games on the trot, and in four out of five, in a purple patch in September and October, and has five goals in the bag in just 11 starts this season report the Liverpool Echo .

Fowler said of the clash between Liverpool and Chelsea: “If I have a slight disappointment, it is that Liverpool didn’t make the most of their attacking situations, and that’s probably because Philippe Coutinho had an off-day.

“You’d love to see him have the consistency that Eden Hazard is showing. Yet it can be tough for players who maintain that level - remember that Hazard had a long spell a couple of seasons ago when he stopped playing at an acceptable level.

Robbie Fowler (Image: Jason Roberts)

“If Coutinho is going to be considered truly world class – at the level of Neymar and Lionel Messi - then he will have to offer a bit more in games like this.

“But he still had that ability to produce something from nowhere for Mo Salah’s goal.”

Fowler also used his column in the Sunday Mirror to suggest Liverpool’s reputataion for being poor defensively is unfair and comes now mainly through reputation than what is happening on the pitch.

“I don’t think Chelsea will tell you they were playing against a rubbish defence. Eden Hazard was outstanding again, and he created a lot of attacking thrust, yet Chelsea were restricted to just a few chances, Simon Mignolet making some decent saves.

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“The goal was a fluke. I’m not having Willian meant it - you could see from his run and the shape of his body that he was looking to turn the ball back towards the far post. And he didn’t even look up to see where the keeper was.

“...I’ll go back to how many real chances Chelsea had? Two? They are a very good team, they defend so well, and they can break with such pace. The way the two wing backs get forward defies belief sometimes.

“Yet, on the whole, the attitude and mental strength of the Liverpool defence was very impressive, and they deserved to keep a clean sheet.

“What is it, only the second goal they’ve conceded at home in the Premier League this season? Why do people never talk about that stat?”